Unpacking Gilbert Abala: Dribbling Ace and Crossing Expert
Gilbert Abala is one of Kenyan football's rising stars. Abala plays for the Nairobi City Stars, where he has recently been a vital part of the relegation-threatened squad. He has a Tisini rating of 5.9, making him one of the club's standout performers. A recent high school graduate with little experience has been trusted by coaches to play in high-pressure games in a top-tier league.
Abala came into the limelight in 2022 during high school games with the little-known day school, Mabunge RC, from Nambale, Busia County. He was the piece that Otwane used to complete his puzzle to propel his side to glory, though they were eliminated in the semis by St. Mathia's Mwitoti. He shone during Western regional games held in Mumias, thus drawing interest from various scouts.
While in high school, he used to play for Busia Sugar, a club that was playing in the Western regional league at that time. However, after the completion of high school studies, he attracted interest from different clubs within the country. It was Nicholas Muyoti’s Nairobi City Stars that managed to acquire his signature from the Teen of Hope academy.
After joining Simba Wa Nairobi, Abala did not manage to make a breakthrough to the first team. He had limited minutes, as most of the time he was used as a substitute. However, things changed drastically during the 2024/2025 mid-season January transfer window. Mohammed Bajaber’s move to Police FC was a blessing in disguise for Abala.
He was trusted with coaches and required to step up and fill the shoes of the departed Bajeber. Assistant coach Gitagia hailed Abala as a suitable replacement for Bajaber. "Abala has been in great form, and with his youth on his side, I believe he will rise to the occasion and fill Bajaber's shoes. When a player leaves, it creates an opportunity for others to step up, and we are confident that's what will happen here."
What makes the vast winger an outstanding player? Here are some of the traits that make him perform at an elite level.
As a traditional winger, the former Mabunge RC man thrives in a variety of formations. He can play as a wide player in a 4-4-3 or 4-4-2 formation. He can play on both sides of the wing; this is evident as he fancies switching positions during game time with the fellow winger. He stretches the opponent's defence by staying wide and maintaining the team's width while in attack. This creates space for his teammates to attack.
He's a threat in 1v1 situations. He can create separation through dribbling or beating his marker with the electrifying pace. He prefers to progress the ball forward; through this, he has been seen taking on defenders with dribbles. He's referred to as a "master of dribbling" by his teammates.
As he dribbles the ball, he aims to attack the opponent's box. He has 15 box carries and 32 touches in the opponent's box. This justifies his ball progression in the final third. Though sometimes he will be seen combining with overlapped fullbacks or a midfielder in the wide areas as they aim to attack the box.
With his elite crossing ability, he looks to play early crosses to the box once his teammates arrive in the box. He has played the most crosses in the team, 28. This seems to be a main goal: creating chances for the Simba wa Nairobi.
With four goals to his name this season, Abala has managed to take 24 shots; however, only 7 shots have been on target, making him have a low conversion rate from the shots he takes. This means this is a flaw this youngster needs to work on, as it's not impressive.
It seems Abala has been hitting the gym. In a league that is so physical, a player needs to match the physicality and the intensity that are required. With this body frame, Abala can move around with the ball with much ease. His height and strong legs play a vital role as he dribbles. His wide shoulders and stamina make it difficult to dispossess the ball.
With his athleticism, Abala's recovery runs help his side while out of possession. When they are defending with a narrow, compact structure. The fullback moves in the half-space as he looks to shut the passing lanes in the wide areas. He's an aggressive presser as always; look at limiting the opposition from building the play from the back.
Recently, he was in the provisional squad for the Rising Stars under-20 AFCON squad; however, he did not make it to the final cut. With the talent at his disposal, Abala is a rough diamond that will improve with time.
Image Credit: Nairobi City Stars